UN Rights Official Says Gaza Detainees Ill-Treated, Humiliated by Israel 

Palestinians are silhouetted at sunset as they walk at a damaged section of the Al-Rashid coast road after crossing from northern to southern Gaza, Gaza Strip, 18 January 2024. (EPA)
Palestinians are silhouetted at sunset as they walk at a damaged section of the Al-Rashid coast road after crossing from northern to southern Gaza, Gaza Strip, 18 January 2024. (EPA)
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UN Rights Official Says Gaza Detainees Ill-Treated, Humiliated by Israel 

Palestinians are silhouetted at sunset as they walk at a damaged section of the Al-Rashid coast road after crossing from northern to southern Gaza, Gaza Strip, 18 January 2024. (EPA)
Palestinians are silhouetted at sunset as they walk at a damaged section of the Al-Rashid coast road after crossing from northern to southern Gaza, Gaza Strip, 18 January 2024. (EPA)

A UN human rights official on Friday called for an end to Israel's ill treatment of Palestinian detainees in Gaza, saying he had met men who had been held for weeks, beaten and blindfolded, with some released in diapers.

"These are men who were detained by the Israeli security forces in unknown locations for between 30 to 55 days," said Ajith Sunghay, a UN human rights representative told reporters by video link from Gaza, who met with released detainees in the enclave.

"There are reports of men who are subsequently released, but only in diapers without any adequate clothing in this cold weather."



Meeting with Syrian Interim Govt was 'Good Opportunity' for Diplomacy, Berlin Says

A person holds a Syrian opposition flag with the word "Freedom" on it during a demonstration celebrating the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, outside the Syrian embassy in Madrid, Spain, December 8, 2024. (Reuters)
A person holds a Syrian opposition flag with the word "Freedom" on it during a demonstration celebrating the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, outside the Syrian embassy in Madrid, Spain, December 8, 2024. (Reuters)
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Meeting with Syrian Interim Govt was 'Good Opportunity' for Diplomacy, Berlin Says

A person holds a Syrian opposition flag with the word "Freedom" on it during a demonstration celebrating the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, outside the Syrian embassy in Madrid, Spain, December 8, 2024. (Reuters)
A person holds a Syrian opposition flag with the word "Freedom" on it during a demonstration celebrating the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, outside the Syrian embassy in Madrid, Spain, December 8, 2024. (Reuters)

German diplomats' meeting with members of the Syrian interim government was a good opportunity to make contact with the country's new rulers, a German foreign ministry spokesperson said.

"This was the first good opportunity to get in touch with HTS and the de facto guardians in Damascus," the spokesperson said, referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group left in charge following the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad, Reuters reported.

Tuesday's talks in Damascus focused on stabilizing Syria and looked at ways to resume Germany's diplomatic presence there, according to the spokesperson.